Winter lighting for egg production

[aart]

I light from Aug 15th to May 15th here in SE PA.

Aart, I use one 40 watt bulb in a reflector hood for my 8 by 8 coop. Have it on a lamp timer goes on around 3 a.m. in winter & off at 8 a.m.

Do you set it to 3am on Aug 15th...or ramp it up slowly?

 

[Cindy in PA]

Do you set it to 3am on Aug 15th...or ramp it up slowly?

My sunrise is about 6:15 by August 15th & I will start at about 5:30 and change 1/2 hour every week or so as the daylight decreases. I am not real careful about it. I just noticed my actual date that the day goes below 14 hours is August 9th! Guess I have been using the wrong date all along. Think I actually have the light going on at 5:30 right now, as I just put in a new timer. Can't be too precise as I use a basic mechanical lamp timer.